Method of making decorative articles



R. BAKER METHOD OF MAKING DECORATIVE ARTICLES Filed Nov. 12, 1920 April14, 192s. 1,533,300

l WITNESSES: INVENTOR 1/7 WWW-W i9 galplz flake!" ATTORNEY Patented Apr.14, 1925 UNITED y 1,53 ATENT ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

\ METHOD OF MAKING DECORATIVE ARTICLES.

Application filed November 12, 1920. Serial No. 423,647..

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, RALPH BAKER, a citizenof the United States, and'a resident of 'Wilkinsburg, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Methods of Making Decorative Articles, of which thefollowing is. a specification. p

This invention relates to ornamental arc welding, more especially toutilizing an electric are, such as is ordinarily employed for electricwelding, for the formation of deposits to produce receptacles orcontainers of ornamental and useful shapes.

I have found that metal derived from a fusible metal electrode by thepassage of a current therethr'ough may be so deposited in superposedlayers as to form various articles of an ornamental and useful nature,it being among the objects of my invention to produce such objects ofvarious designs.

Another object of my invention is to construct walls of receptacles orcontainers by manipulating a fusible electrode helically to formsuperposed deposits of metal;

A further object of my invention is to provide mechanlcal control meansfor manipulating an electrode to obtain predetermined, uniform depositsof metal.

In practising my invention, I generally provide a non-adherent baseplate on which the metal is deposited by an arc formed between the baseplate and a fusible metal electrode. Thecurrent used is of suchmagnitude as is consistent with the speed at which the electrode ismanipulated and the thickness of the deposit desired, the current value.usually varying from 5,000 to 10,000 amperes per square inch.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate several embodiments of myinvention,

Fig. 1 is a view, in perspective, of an article formed on a metal plate,and con-.

sisting of superposed layers of metal deposited thereon in accordancewith my in vention; V

Fig. 2 is a similar view of an article of somewhat different structure;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a wall section showing a sequence ofdeposits formed in accordance. with my invention.

In order td form receptacles or other objects by my method, I provide afusible electrode of metal placed in a suitable welding circuit. Inaccordance with this invention, any suitable motion may be given to theelectrode to form various configurations built up of superposed layersof metal deposits to form containers.

To form an integral structure, I utilize a non-fusible base plate, and,by manipulating the electrode to form an endless spiral deposit having alead equal to the. width of the deposit, I form the base or bottom of acontainer. In forming the side walls, I manipulate the electrode in acircular manner, forming a continuous heli'x of deposited metal having alead equal to the depth of the of the deposit.

In forming a complete container from deposited metal, I generallyutilize a metal base plate of a high thermal conductivity and capacitywhich rapidly diffuses the heat of the are, thus preventing fusion ofthe metal deposits to the plate. In some instances, I may utilize a baseplate of low thermal capacity or of the same metal as the fusibleelectrode and allow the deposited metal to adhere thereto to form anintegral part thereof.

I establish an are between a fusible metal electrode and a base plate 1to form a deposit 2 of the desired shape or outline, either round, asshown in Fig. 1, or elliptical, as shown in Fig. 2, or of any suitablecontour. By manipulating the electrode to follow the same outline asdeposit 2 over and over again, I obtain an endless deposit formingsuperposed layers 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, etc., constituting the walls of thecontainer. A double or extra heavy deposit 9 may be formed as the toplayer of theconta-iner, and handles 10 may be formed on the body, asshown, by superposing deposits in a suitable manner.

I need not necessarily manipulate the electrode by hand. If theelectrode is to be manipulated to form a number of articles having likecontour, pantographic or other apparatus, such as is used by engravers,may be employed. This invention allows a wide latitude of design andmanipulation. 1 The superposed deposits may be combined into any one ofa large. num er of designs, patterns, objects of art, utensils,imitations of objects. trimmings for objects, etc.

It is to be understood that, although I have described my invention asincluding the use of a metallic-electrode weldi'ng arc, it is notlimited to the use thereof, but other means for depositing moltenmetals, in a manner similar to that described, may be used. Forinstance, a carbon arc may be used in combination with a fusible. metalrod or bar.

I claim as my invention:

1. A method of forming metal deposits into receptacles which comprisesestablishing an are between a fusible electrode and a metal base, andmanipulating said electrode to produce superposed deposits to form thewalls of a receptacle.

2. A method of depositing metal which comprises establishing an arebetween a fusible electrode and a metal base, and manipulating said areon said base to form an endless helix of superposed deposits.

Lteaaoo 3. A method of depositing metal which comprises establishing anare between a fusible metal electrode and a non-adherent metal baseplate, manipulating said are spirally to form contiguous layers, andforming an endless helix of superposed deposits thereon.

4. A receptacle comprising superposed layers of fused metal. v

5. A receptacle comprising a spiral deposit of fused metal forming abase of contiguous layers, and superposed layers of fused metal formingthe walls thereof.

6. A receptacle comprising contiguous and superposed deposits of fusedmetal having projections I deposited thereon.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 3rd day ofN ovemher, 1920.

RALPH BAKER.

